Here is information to help live with, vacation near, conserve, and enjoy our native black bear, the only species of bear found in Florida. The state’s largest land mammal has come back from just several hundred bears in the 1970s to more than 3,000 today and is one of Florida’s conservation success stories. Find links to more information along the left side of this page.

What’s going on with bears in Florida?

In August 2012, the Florida Black Bear Management Plan was put into place as a comprehensive document to guide how Florida’s bears should be managed over the next 10 years.

The plan creates Bear Management Units (BMU) based on the seven geographically distinct bear subpopulations in Florida. BMUs give people an opportunity to play an active role in efforts to manage and conserve bears in their local community. Which BMU are you?

In June 2015, the FWC Commissioners approved a limited bear hunt to take place in October 2015 in four of the seven BMUs. Permits will be made available for purchase starting on or around August 3, 2015 through licensed vendors and the online permitting system, RLIS. We will continue to update these pages as more details are finalized.

Do you want to help FWC update the map of where bears are in Florida?

Have you seen a bear or their tracks while hiking, camping, bird watching, or paddling? FWC would like to specifically ask hikers, hunters, and all others who recreate in wild lands for their bear observations.